Messrs. W. M. Bannatyne & Co. Ltd.

Progress, Volume I, Issue 2, 1 December 1905, Page 41

Messrs. W. M. Bannatyne & Co. Ltd.

Far back in the dim " forties " the late William McLeod Bannatyne founded the business which still bears the original title. He was joined soon after by his stepson, the late Arthur Rowsell Baker, and together the two started out on a long course of drastic, pioneer work, which practically extended over a period of twenty years. The unremitting care bestowed m fostering the partnership brought with it the mevitable-that steady and, perhaps, mechanical, expansion which supervenes on the systematic foundation of a business. In 1877, when the firm had attained considerable proportions as a mercantile institution, Mr. Harold Beauchamp was induced to join in the capacity of salesman ; and twelve years later he became a full partner. On the death of Mr. Baker, Mr. Bannatyne having predeceased that gentleman, the entire business fell into Mr. Beauchamp's hands, and the transformation of a private enterprise into a limited company was almost

immediately proceeded with. As chairman of directors Mr. Beauchamp's duties would be thought to be sufficiently onerous and time-taking to warrant the exclusive supervision of his firm's affairs ; but, being ably supported by Messrs. Walter I. Nathan and Frank Dyer, as co-directors, and by Mr. William Brown as secretary, he is enabled to devote a large amount of his administrative ability towards the development of industrial and other enterprises. Mr. Harold Beauchamp may, m reality, be classed as one of New Zealand's busiest men , still, he finds time to take a keen interest m any movement for the promotion of our colony's welfare. He is not a politician, for he has repeatedly refused spontaneous requests to become a candidate for Parliament, and for the mayoralty of Wellington, holding that business and political or civic duties are incompatible with high commercial aspirations. Besides being chairman of directors of Messrs. Bannatyne & Co., Mr Harold Beauchamp is on the board of the Bank of New Zealand, and is chairman thereof pro. tern. He is chairman of the New Zealand board of the Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation of London Lto, Wellington Patent Slip Co , Ltd, and the Wellington Piano Co., Ltd ; a director of the Gear Meat Preserving and Refrigerating Company of New Zealand, Ltd., Wellington Gas Co , Ltd. Equitable Building and Investment Co., of Wellington, Ltd., and the New Zealand Candle Co., Ltd. Mr. Beauchamp has been a member of the Wellington Harbour Board since 1894 -nhen he was selected by the ratepayers of the city to be their representative. He held the chairmanship of the Board for three years in succession-a record for the Wellington Harbour Board. In 1900 Mr.

Beauchamp was a member of the Royal Commission appointed to investigate the question of federation as affecting New Zealand ; and, as will be remembered, the Commission reported against the proposal of this colony joining the Commonwealth. It is a coincidence that Mr. A. Macintosh, the General Manager of the Bank of New Zealand, while serving the Commercial Banking Company in Sydney m the " sixties," was associated with Mr. Beauchamp's uncle, Mr. Henry Heron Beauchamp, who was then a director of that bank. Messrs. Bannatyne & Co. hold a number of important agencies, of which the following ard a few :-The Tyser Line Ltd., The Oceanic Steamship Co., Royal Insurance Co., China Traders' Insurance Co., Nobel's Explosives, Curtiss and Harvey Ltd., T. C. Williams Co., Apollmans Co., Ltd., Udolpho Wolfe & Sons, and J. Dewar & Sons, Ltd.

The friends of Mr. John Gell, formerly manager of the telegraph station at Wakapuaka, will be interested to learn that the company formed by him to manufacture his instruments for rapid telegraphy is now on the high road to success. When Mr. H. J. Thompson was m London, from whence he has just returned, he visited the factory and saw some of the instruments at work m Mr. Gell's laboratory. The factory is quite an extensive place, and employs about 20 hands, most of whom are skilled mechanics capable of executing the very fine work necessary m the manufacture of instruments. The company have spared noexpense in fit tin gup the factory as they are assured that there will be a big demand on their output.